A Karen Walker grunge-inspired outfit.

A Karen Walker grunge-inspired outfit.

Musicians have always inspired fashion trends, sometimes way ahead of time.

Perhaps you'd like to get ahead of local label junkies and swot up on the next musical trends fashion might appropriate.

Or maybe you just want to navigate your way smoothly through the various musical subcultures at the Big Day Out today.

Either way, read our bluffer's guide to musical subcultures, which could contain the seeds of the next big thing in your own wardrobe.


INDIE

This is an all-ages phenomenon that takes in the many and varied forms of "independent" music. As the main qualification merely requires not signing up with any major record labels, indie could include everything from The White Stripes to The Kings of Leon to Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah to Nick Cave to Sonic Youth.

However, over the past three years, indie - in fashion terms - has come to mean a relatively specific look.

How do I spot one?

Tight pants, striped tops, old suit jackets, Converse sneakers or ballet flats, boys in retro shirts, girls in second-hand frocks.

Indies and emos are often confused. The main differences are colours. Indie kids tend to be more colourful in their outfits and less androgynous. They are less likely to have black hair. There are also older indies. Emo kids will often avoid retro looks, but indie kids are mad for second-hand shopping.

Is this the future of fashion?

Come on, where have you been? This look, also described as rock'n'roll, has already spread the message of tight pants, skinny young men with wavy hair, and girls looking bohemian on local and international runways.

Dior Homme designer Hedi Slimane was all over it like a rash several seasons ago when he favoured man-orexic looking indie bands.

What do I wear to become one?

Vintage, particularly from Fast & Loose on K Rd.

Style icons: Pete Doherty, The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand, Karen O from The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Kills, The Checks.


EMO

A youth-oriented musical genre - the term emo stands for "emotional hardcore" - that today's hip 30-somethings do not understand and don't want to. They call it Harry Potter goth.